Ellicott City - Corodado, CA

September 27, 2025 Peace and Good, I was quite busy these past couple of weeks with spiritual direction appointments. I had missed a week of them when I had covid, and I am going to be away for three weeks giving a parish mission and a workshop at our novitiate in this time. I flew out to San Diego last Friday, and this week (Monday thru Thursday) I have been presenting classes on the Acts of the Apostles and the Book of Revelation. I had classes in the morning and evening (same topic). This coming week I will be giving classes on the Gospel of Matthew which we will be using this coming liturgical year. Then I will fly up to San Luis Obispo to give a week workshop to the novices on the Gospels and the Psalms. I have been reading quite a bit on archeology this week because I am about to start a new series of articles on that topic for the Messenger of St. Anthony, the magazine for which I write from Padua, Italy (in English). There are also a couple of other writing projects that I must address as soon as I find time for them. The weather here is wonderful - in the 70's each day with a low humidity. I have been at this parish anumber of times, and I have always found it to be welcoming. I have finished some reading and listening: Shakespeare by Peter Ackroyd Peter Ackroyd is a great historian and author concerning things British. I have read a few of his works dealing with the Tudor period. This study of the life and works of Shakespeare is a masterpiece. We do not have as much information about Shakespeare’s life as one would expect, but Ackroyd is able to piece together the scanty documentary information and tie it to events in Shakespeare’s life and the political and economic scene of England in his day. Hadrian’s Wall by Adrian Goldsworthy Goldsworthy is a great historian of ancient times. This book deals with the purpose, construction and history of the wall ordered by the Emperor Hadrian in northern England. He presents it as a means of regulating commerce but also of slowing down raiders from the north until adequate forces could be gathered to fight them. He also presents a study of garrison life in the army camps along the course of the wall. Saint Paul by Michael Grant Michael Grant is a good, popular historian of ancient times. He has specialized on Roman times in the past. This book presents the biography (as much as it is possible) and the writings of St. Paul. Much of the material is very good, but I have to admit that at times the author had the strangest theories that I have ever heard concerning Paul and his teachings and his relationship with the early Christian community. I would not recommend this book. Understanding the New Testament by David Brakke This is a Great Courses presentation of the New Testament in 24 episodes. The professor is good and balanced. There were times when I did not agree with his positions, but they were always points that were and are quite debatable. He gives a good overview of the history and content of the books (and letters) that make up our present New Testament. The Hebrew Bible by Lawrence Schiffman This is a Modern Scholars course on the Hebrew Bible. The presenter goes into the history of its production, its agreement or not with archeological evidence, the content of the books and their relationship to other books, and the use of the Hebrew Bible by associated groups (e.g. Qumran, Christians, etc.). Buried by Jeffery Deaver This is a short novel of a newspaper reporter who is getting ready to retire because of the tendency of the on-line versions of news to play to the market instead of reporting the news. He challenges this tendency by investigating a series of attacks in which the victims are buried underground while the aggressor leaves clues concerning their whereabouts. This story turns out to be a much larger conspiracy than the reporter or anyone first expected. Give me a Fast Ship by Tim McGrath This is the story of the beginning of the Continental navy during the Revolutionary War. It had two aspects, the official vessels and those which had been chartered as privateers (government sanctioned pirates). The book deals with many of the interesting characters who served as captains during the fight and how their personalities and egos clashed. For All the Tea in China by Sarah Rose This is a book that describes the efforts of an English botanist, Robert Fortune, to bring tea plants and seeds to India to grow there so that the British Empire might be able to stop depending on tea from China (whose purchase was creating a foreign exchange disaster). It was, of course, illegal to export the plants and expertise from China, but by this time the Chinese Empire was so decrepit that it was unable to stop Fortunes efforts. Crashes and Crises: Lessons from a history of Financial Disasters by Connel Fullenkamp This Great Courses presentation deals with the great market crashes in US history and also with episodes of lack of due diligence that brought on disaster and others of actual fraud. The presentation can become a bit technical when it describes various instruments of investment. Measuring America by Andra Linklater Years ago I read a book about Mason and Dixon who established the line that would become the division between the north and the south. This book is different in that it concentrates on the tools that surveyors used and their importance to the settling of the west (the west in those days, we would consider it the western part of the eastern states). It gets into quite a bit of technical detail that I did not all that interesting. The establishment of units of measure (length, dry weights and wet weights) was a bit more interesting. Russian Urban Legends by Chronicle Press This is a strange mix of stories that come from Russia (and the Soviet Union). Chronicle Press is a source that I found on Kindle that offered free books at their issue date. While I would not say that this book was great, it was interesting. Czar Nicholas II and the End of the Romanov Dynasty by Charles River Editors This is only a short account of the last czar and his family and the revolutionary forces that brought an end to their dynasty. Nicholas is presented as a well-meaning but weak character who was much more interested in preserving the prerogatives of his reign than in helping his nation. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Santa Cruz - Ellicott City

September 14, 2025 The Feast of the Exultation of the Cross Peace and Good, As you can see above, I was in California a week for my annual retreat, at a retreat house in Santa Cruz (a small city south of San Francisco, right on the ocean). The presenter was Br. William Short, and he spoke on the Canticle of the Creatures (for this is the 800th anniversary of that poem). He was excellent, and being right near the ocean was great. I do not walk the beach so much as listen to the sound of the waaves. Five minutes of that and I find myself tremendously calm. The rest of the time recently has been spent in normal things. I am doing a lot of spiritual direction which I truly like. I also help out with Confessions and Mass at the Shrine and at St. Joseph Nursing Home in Catonsville. It is time to get back to writing a bit, doing articles for two magazines: one in Padua, Italy and the other in Kenya. The weather is beautiful, a nice fall with the leaves just starting to change color. There have been a couple of events in these days. I met with a men's group in the local parish for a question and answer period. People really appreciate the opportunity to ask someone questions that have been nagging them for quite some time. The other event was a Mass we celebrated here for the ministers of the Secular Franciscan throughout the country. I was the celebrant and the peacher. I have finished some reading and listening: First Bull Run by Charles River Editors This is a short account of the first major battle of the Civil War. Up to this point, both sides thought that the division of the states would quickly be resolved. The losses in this battle (which were all but insignificant compared to latter battles like Shiloh, Antietam, and Gettysburg) nevertheless shocked the nation. Both sides were ill prepared, and either could have won given the tremendous chaos of the battle and the inability of troops to follow orders. A Field Guide to the Planets by Sabine Stanley This is a study of the solar system at a scientific level. He speaks of the sun and each of the planets, but also of their moons, rings, wandering asteroids and comets, etc. I was fascinated that the first four planets are rocky, while the next ones are gaseous (so that one could not even speak of a solid surface) and the last ones icy. The presenter is very good, but a first watch was not enough to absorb all of the content. The Great Siege of Malta by Charles River Editors This is an overview of the siege of Malta, a monumental battle between Christian and Islamic forces on the island that lay at the center of the Mediterranean. If it were conquered, it would endanger Sicily and Italy and the rest of Christianity. A rather small group of a monastic knightly order, the knights of Malta, were able to defeat the Ottomans in a prolonged siege which, by any objective measure, the other side should have won. Great Presidents by Allan Lichtman This is a rather long (48 presentations) course from the Great Courses on a series of presidents whom the professor considers to be great. It mostly agrees with the normal list, although he also threw in Polk because of his importance to the expansion of the territory of the nation. He also spoke of his 13 point test concerning who is most likely to win a presidential election (and he has been right for quite some time). Still Life with Crows by Dougles Preston and Lincoln Child I have read just about all of Preston’s and Child’s book. They are about an FBI agent known as Prengergast. He is a unique figure who has astounding powers of observation and intuition. These books mostly deals at a normal level of criminality, but sometimes goes into a bit of science fiction. This volume deals with a series of grisly crimes in the Midwest of the US and how he and his new sidekick are able to find the source of the evil befalling the area. St. Augustine in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern Strathern has written a series of short, short books on various major figures of philosophy and theology. In this presentation, he is usually fair, but occasionally gets a bit snarky in his prejudices against what Augustine wrote and taught. It nevertheless is worth a read or listen. The Greek Revolution by Mark Mazower I have always believed that the Greek revolution against the Ottoman empire was comparable to that of the American founders. It was not that in any way. First of all, one had to deal with much more proximate distances between the combatants. Then there was the lack of unity among the Greeks who had lived under Ottoman dominance and cruel treatment for centuries. The European powers only entered the war toward the end, and their victory over the navy of the Ottomans at Navarino was the deciding moment in the rebellion. How to Survive Space by Ronke Olibisi This is a Great Courses presentation which deals with many of the difficulties of space travel. It deals with questions of blood circulation, digestion, muscle atrophy in a low gravity environment. It speaks of radiation and heat and cold circumstances. Then there are questions of getting along with others over long periods of time in a relatively small environment (with all of its associated smells). The account shows how difficult it will be to exist on space trips, and how difficult it would be to survive on the moon or one of the planets. The Modern Scholar: Classical Mythology: the Romans by Peter Meineck This is an overview of the mythology of Rome, dealing with its own indigenous mythology as well as its borrowings from the Greek culture and how those stories were adopted to fit the needs of the Romans. Meineck also shows how this left a mythology which at times overlapped with two or three accounts of the same event (e.g. the founding of Rome). The Surprising Lives of Christian Saints by Emily Graham This is a Great Courses overview of some of the saints of the Christian era from its earliest days to the present. There is a preference for women saints and holy women. Graham also includes a number of non-Catholic men and women who have lived truly saintly lives. The presentation are well done and make one want to study the topic even more. The Wars of the Roosevelts by William Mann I originally thought this would be an overview of the wars fought by Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt from the Spanish American War to World War II. It was not that at all. It dealt with the relationships among the various branches of the Roosevelt family. It gives a good insight to the personalities of those involved as well as their political tendencies and choices. From Desert Asceticism to Vatican II by Christopher Bellitto I have come to like all of Bellitto’s presentation for Learn 25. They are all well researched, well stated, and full of interesting information. This one covers the topic of conversion in the Church from its earliest days to the present. It deals especially with the two major currents of conversion: individual and institutional. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 24, 2025 Peace and Good, As you can see by the header, I have been all this week. I was actually more home than usual, for I was in my room the whole time getting over covid. I cam down with what I thought was a bad cold this past weekend, but something was just not right. I did not have all the symptoms I would have expected, and had some strange ones. I finally tested myself on Monday morning, and sure enough, I was positive. The time of recovery in my room was good. I read and listened to audiobooks a lot, and I was able to finish an editing project upon which I had been working (revising some of the Good News Notes for reprint). This week I will be at home, largely catching up on appointments that I had to move from this past week. Then a week from Monday, I and fr. Emmanuel will be heading out to California for a retreat at Santa Cruz, a town on the ocean just below San Francisco. I have noticed an interesting development these past months. More and more I am being invited to sessions of faith sharing groups to do a question and answer. I really like doing this sort of thing. It gives people a chance to ask questions of someone which they might have been pondering for a long time. Furthermore, it make me think anew about certain things, and that is always healthy. In theology, it is so easy to use definitions which sound right, but which people (including oneself) don't really understand. I have finished some reading and listening: 7 Days with Pope Francis by Anthony Ciorra This is a rather short presentation of some of the major teachings of Pope Francis in a retreat format. Thus, it is not simply a question of what he taught, but also how to apply those lessons to our spiritual life. It was good, but not tremendously profound. John of the Cross: Poet and Mystic by Keith Egan This was a tremendous study by Learn25 of the life, teachings and writings of St. John of the Cross, the Spanish mystic and contemporary of St. Theresa of Avila. Egan is a Carmelite scholar who is part of the Carmelite John of the Cross study forum. I would recommend this course to anyone who either was interested in John of the Cross or mysticism in general. Gospel of John 101 by Donald Senior This is a Learn25 course on the Gospel of John. Senior is a great Johannine scholar. His overview was very good and informative, but I cannot say that I learned too much that was new. A History of Hitlers Empire by Thomas Childers This is a Great Courses presentation of 24 lectures on the history of the rise, reign and fall of the Hitler empire. I cannot say that I learned anything new, but the course was well presented and informative. Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology by John Renton This is a Great Courses study of geology. The professor is good, but this is the type of course that I would like to watch more than once. One of the most interesting thing I learned was how ground water, which we are using at a tremendous rate, is not replenished for many decades if not longer. He also deals with the discovery and use of fossil fuels like oil and coal. A Murder, A Mystery, and a Marriage by Mark Twain This is an unpublished story (until recently) which deals with an ambitious father (ambitious for his own resources) and how he tries to arrange the marriage of his daughter with the man who would bring him the most profit. It is typical of Twain for its twists and turns as well as for the mocking tone taken concerning the greed and pettiness of the father. Descartes in 90 Minutes by Paul Strathern Strathern has put together a series of very short outlines of the lives of famous philosophers and theologians. He presents the person as well as the theories of the person being studied. This volume speaks quite a bit of the personality of Descartes and why his philosophical skepticism led him to the simple conclusion of “I think, therefore I am.,” a conclusion that later philosophers would challenge. Who is Jesus?: An Introduction to Christology by Brian McDermott This is a series of lectures on the person of Jesus, both as revealed in Sacred Scripture and as pictured in the theology of the early Church. The professor speaks of some of the more recent Christological developments as well, showing the strengths of shortfalls of the various positions. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity by Robert Louis Wilken I was apprehensive when I began to listen to this particular book. I was worried that it might have been a very parochial presentation of early Church history in order to buttress the author’s own belief system. That is not what I found. It was a balanced history of the development of Christianity. It even dealt with many of the Churches of the East which is something that is often left out of the story. The Joys of Ancient History by Various Authors (Great Courses). This is a Great Courses anthology of 36 lectures taken from other courses that deal with various aspects of ancient history. The topics deal with history, myth, religion, sociology, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the collection and would recommend either this presentation or the courses from which the lectures are taken to anyone. Classical Mythology by Elizabeth Vandiver This is an overview of mostly Greek (with a small amount of Roman) mythology. The presenter is very good, and she begins by examining many of the theories on the development and meaning of classical mythology (e.g. sociology, psychology – whether Freudian or Jungian), the theories of Campbell and others. I find her opinions very balanced and are taken not to advance some pet theory but to try to come to grips with the myths as they stand. Books that Matter: City of God by Charles Mathewes This is an overview of the book written by St. Augustine after the fall of Rome to describe the relationship between the earthly reign and the heavenly reign, the earthy Rome and the heavenly Jerusalem. This is a Great Courses presentation, and the professor outlines the influences upon Augustine, his theology and philosophy, and the history of the times. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 11, 2025 The Feast of St. Clare Peace and Good I have been busy covering Masses and Confessions at the Shrine and the Nursing Home this past week. A number of friars are away for their vacation, and I have been asked to fill in a bit. It is not overwhelming in any way. I have been able to get some work done on daily reflections, but I have not had time for any writing. This past Saturday I and Br. Nick Romeo presented a workshop on the Canticle of the Creatures. Anna, who is the head of our publicity department, had suggested it since this year is the 800th anniversary of that poem (where we get the idea of Brother Sun and Sister Moon). I took the morning speaking about the scriptural background, and he took the afternoon dealing with Franciscan spirituality. We had a great turnout. It should be posted on youtube sometime this or next week. I still have a workshop in mind about the Nicean Creed, given that this is the 1,700th anniversary of that formula. I still have to work out the details, and in the meantime I am researching it a bit. The weather has been blessedly moderate, although these next few days will climb back up into the 90's. I finished some reading and listening: Captive Queen by Alison Weir This is a fictional account of the relationship between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England and Normandy. The author, who has written many books on the monarchy of England during this period, is more than a bit voyeuristic in sexual terms. I have to say I was disappointed because I got the impression that whenever the author did not know what was really going on, then she felt obliged to throw in the complaint that Henry was robbing Eleanor of her authority or to get the two into bed. Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart This is an overview of bugs that have often proven to be dangerous (to crops, to animals, to people, etc.). Each presentation is short, and the series proves to be a type of anthology. The author is matter of fact, not sensationalistic in any way. Daoism by James Miller This is an explanation of the basic concepts of Daoism and its history, especially in China. It is much more mixed up in mythology and body power flow and ideas such as this. I cannot say that I understood much of what was said, but it was a good first look at the topic and a challenge to go more into depth in the future. Extreme Offenders: Psychological Insights by Katherine Ramsland This is a study of people who have done truly terrible things. The presenter who is a scholar in this matter is clear, honest and discerning. It is not a course (great courses) for the timid, but it does delve into often hidden parts of our society. Language Families of the World by John McWorter This is a study of linguistics throughout the world and the ages. The professor who makes the presentation is well informed and knows how to present a subject that could easily be mind numbing boring in an enjoyable way. I believe that this is the type of presentation that I would want to watch again in the near future to pick up some of what I missed, but even so, I learned a lot. Delphi Collected Paintings of Edvard Munch by Peter Russell One of the few paintings I had ever seen from Munch was the Scream. This overview of his work and his life shows that the angst expressed in that painting was due to his family tragedies (deaths of a number of close relatives, mostly due to tuberculosis) as well as his inherited mental illness. It is interesting, though, that while his anxiety ridden paintings are emphasized, few speak of his beautiful nature scenes. Maybe nature was the only place he was able to find the peace he so desperately sought. Anaximander by Carlo Rovelli This is the story of one of the first Greek philosophers. He was part of the movement which no longer attributed changes to the gods but rather sought natural forces to explain them. Anaximander, for example, was able to propose that the earth was floating upon nothing rather than lying on some foundation (thus changing our view of the cosmos). While the scientific exposition was very good, the author gets caught up in an anti-religion polemic that was embarrassing because of his histrionics. The Internment of German Americans during World War II by Charles River Editors We often hear about the internment of the Japanese Americans during World War II, but this short book deals with that of German Americans (and Italian Americans). While there were some real sympathizers and even spies for the Germans, most of those sent to camps or repatriated to Germany were simply people who had come from Germany in the inter-war years. Their story is not all that well told, largely because they had to swear a secrecy oath before they were released. This is a part of history that we often don’t hear about. Spies in Tudor England by Charles River Editors This is the story of the network of spies (internal and external) during the reign of Henry VIII and especially of Elizabeth I. Some of the spy craft was political, but there was also religious spy craft as well (which the author of this short treatment is hesitant to admit). I know that Catholic forces were not entirely blameless of the situation, but I don’t like it when they are presented as the only bad actors in a confused situation. Popes and the Papacy by Thomas Noble This is a Great Courses treatment of the papacy in 24 lectures. The professor is very respectful to the tradition and teachings of the papacy. He is not hesitant to admit shortcomings (and certain periods of the papacy that were terribly scandalous). Yet, his goal is not to push one position over another, but to be as clear as he can about confusing details. I very much enjoyed his treatment. Life in Ancient Rome by Lionel Casson This is a short overview of some of the history and customs of ancient Rome. It especially deals with the period which runs from the beginning of the imperial state to the end of the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It does not deal with any topic in depth, but is a good read nevertheless. Turning Point by Jeffery Deaver This is a short novel about catching a serial killer by setting a trap that he could not resist. The story is well written and filled with twists and turns. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

August 4, 2025 Peace and Good, I hope you are all well. Here in Baltimore we are enjoying several days of beautiful weather after a very long stretch of uncearable heat. I have been at home helping out at the shrine and the nursing home. A good number of friars are on vacation these days, so the needs of those two sites are a bit more than is usual, but I really don't mind. I have been doing a lot of spiritual direction, and I have had to hit the pause button a few times in these months to ask people to wait for a couple of months before I would begin with them. The reason is that I tend to get a rush of new people, and I don't want to start new people too soon lest I get confused about their story. At this point I am asking people to get in touch with me at the end of October. I always feel a bit guilty about saying this, but I have to keep remembering that I cannot save the whole world all by myself. I hope to start of bit of writing in the next couple of days. I have to revise some of the Good News notes for reprint. I also have a project to do a guided tour of a series of panels which speak of the life of St. Anthony. That one is going to take more time than I expected, but I find I can only really write things when I am in the mood. I finished some reading and listening: Medieval Christianity by Christopher Bellitto Bellitto is proving to be one of my favorite professors. This is a Learn25 presentation, and Bellitto manages to present a good overview of the history and customs and religious movements of Medieval Christianity. He is very balanced in his approach, and very, very informative. I would recommend any of his courses to anyone who would ask. The Enduring Genius of Frederick Law Olmstead by Adam Rome This is a short Great Courses presentation on the designer of Central Park in New York City. I also found out in this presentation that he did quite a bit of park design in my native city, Buffalo. The professor speaks especially of Olmstead’s theories concerning the city’s obligation to provide a proper living space for people to gather beyond class divisions. His theories of park development have much more to do with the need of people for breathing room in a chaotic environment than anything else. Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis Ellis is one of the preeminent authors about the revolutionary period, and this book deals with the summer of 1776, from the situation in Boston and the evacuation of British troops there, to the defeats that Washington suffered in the New York area, to the movement toward independence at the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. His treatment of the topic is masterful. Great Masters: Stravinsky by Robert Greenburg This is a great courses presentation of the great composer Stravinsky. The professor is well verses and funny, but I cannot say that I enjoy Stravensky’s music. I find it too modern for my taste and strange. Greenburg is a big fan of his music, but I just don’t get it. Saint Peter: Upon This Rock by Raymond Collins This is a Learn25 presentation of the role of St. Peter, especially as seen in the writings of the New Testament. I had greater expectations than were met in listening to this course. Too much of it is simply a recitation of relevant verses. There are a few good insights, but not all that many. Strong Men Armed by Robrt Lackie This is a history of the battles fought by the Marines during the Pacific theatre of World War II. There is an overview of the Marine’s role and the American plans for the war, but also there are considerable first hand accounts of what happened. It runs from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Resurrection and the Afterlife by Candida Moss This is the presentation by an English theologian about early beliefs in the resurrection and the afterlife (before, during and after the time of Jesus). I did find this treatment quite useful, especially in terms of the apocalyptic movements in scripture and in the Jewish community at the time of Jesus (which helps us understand how his listeners would have interpreted his message). Nature Watching: How to Find and Observe Wildlife by Casey McFarland This is a Great Courses video presentation on the practice of tracking wildlife. I listened to it to get general ideas about the practice and not necessarily to be able to track deer or bear in the woods. McFarland is very excited about his material, and he presents his insights in an almost religious atmosphere (without exaggeration). It was quite good. The Scorpion’s Tail by Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston This is the story of the discovery of a dead body and a treasured golden cross that leads to greater discoveries on a Native American reservation and an Army base in the middle of nowhere. The action is good and convoluted (in a good way). The one flaw I saw in the novel was the need of the authors to throw in the presence of Inspector Pendergast. He has nothing to do with the story at all except that he is the mentor of Cory, the lead FBI agent on the investigation. Yet, he shows up in the last scene to make a discovery that no one even knew was there. Liberty and Crisis: The History of the American Revolution during 1776 by Charles River Editors This is a short (100 page) presentation on the beginning of the revolutionary war, dealing especially with what happened in the Boston area at the start of the war, the production of the declaration of independence, and the New York campaign. Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman This is part of a series of books about police officers in the Navaho police force and their attempt to solve crimes on the reservation. In this case, there is a confusing array of the disappearance of a guide, the illegal sale of native artifacts, tribal politics, etc. The series was begun by Anne’s father, and she has carried on the story with a slightly different spin. Both authors are good and worth reading. Opium by Martin Booth This is a study of the use of opium throughout the ages. Booth speaks of its chemistry, of the various products that can be obtained (e.g. heroin, opium powder, codeine, etc.). He also speaks of attempts to limit or spread its use over the ages (think of the opium wars in the 19th century when the British empire fought for the right to sell its drugs in China). One of the elements of the story that was very interesting was how governments and spy agencies (including the CIA) have been involved in its growth and marketing (at times actively, at other times by ignoring its promulgation). Boss Tweed by Charles River Editors This is a short presentation on the career of the head of the Tammany Hall group in New York city who governed politics in the city for a couple of decades after the Civil War and who used their political and juridical power to rob the city of millions and millions of dollars, as well as fixing elections during that period of time. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City

July 26, 2025 The Memorial of Saints Joachim and Ann Grandparents Day Peace and Good, These past couple of weeks have been the longest spread of hot, hot, hot weather that I remember in Baltimore. This week we might go up to 100. I have been doing most of my daily walks inside out house (which has a long walkway from one end of the building to the other). I have finished editing the Lectors' Workbook for next year. That is really not such a big project since I have been doing this for years, and the new books are just a revision of what we have already done. I have been able to get caught up with my daily podcasts for the scripture readings each day at Mass. I always like to be at least a couple of weeks ahead of time lest something happen and I not be able to record them for a while. This week I have been helping out at the shrine quite a bit, including a funeral this past Tuesday. The local church, St. Louis, is closed for renovation, and they have asked us to pick up some of their funerals and weeddings. I am getting ready for a workshop on the Canticle of the Creatures on August 9. This is the 800th anniversary of the poem written by St. Francis celebrating creation. The poem is the first piece of poetry written in Italian (as far as we know). Previously poetry had been written in Latin. Some people say that this move to the vernacular was the beginning of the Renaissance. I will also be working on a project due by the end of the month. I have been asked to write a script on a virtual tour of a series of large pictures on the life of St. Anthony which hangs in the main coridor of the Shrine. I have finished some reading and listening: Lectures on the Gospel of Mark by Rowan Williams I have heard that Rowan Williams was the best theologian who was the Archbishop of Canterbury since St. Anselm. These lectures were a type of Holy Week retreat on the Gospel of Mark. I can believe the theological reputation mentioned above. Williams is informative, thoughtful, and spiritual. He weighs the various possible positions, showing how they are stronger or weaker. It was a joy listening to these lectures. The Beast by Faye Kellerman This is a detective story which begins with an elderly billionaire found in his modest apartment with a Bengal Tiger running lose in the room. The team must deal with a host of suspects, and a host of complications in the story, especially when human body parts are found among the tiger’s food packages. It is a good story. Aquinas for Armchair Theologians by Timothy Renick This is part of a series on theologians and philosophers. Each presentation is one hour long to three hours. This one was on the longer side of the spectrum. The author gives a good biography and a good evaluation of the positions of Aquinas. He also has a great sense of humor, so the text does not get bogged down in theoretical positions. I especially appreciated his discussion of just war, of the principle of double effects, of natural law, etc. The Seven Sacraments by Daniel Van Slyke This is a Learn25 presentation. The author is a canon lawyer, so the presentation of the sacraments is technically perfect, but there is very little passion in the presentation. Furthermore, the professor shows an interesting fascination with the Latin liturgy. I really could not recommend this course. Why Sustainable Energy Matters by OpenLearn OpenLearn gives short presentations on various topics. This particular one is on sustainable energy. The author first of all presents the state of affairs today. Then she speaks of various green alternatives (both pro-active such as producing energy, and passive, designing structures and tasks in ways that uses less energy). The author is honest on both the advantages and difficulties and downsides of each technology. Spycraft: the Secret History of the CIA’s Spytechs by Robert Wallace, etc. This is an examination of the secret techniques of spycraft (acting as a spy, but especially the technology they would use such as cameras, communication devices, listening devices, etc.). The material comes from those who have worked on these things, so the presentation is informative and at times tascinating. Meditations on Christ’s Seven Last Words by Laurie Brink This is an examination of the seven last sayings of Jesus along with a concrete modern-day application. The material was OK, but not overly profound. I found myself listening to some of the presentations just to come to a finish of the “retreat”. Museum Masterpieces: The National Gallery by Catherine Scallen This is an overview of the various periods of paintings held by the National Gallery in London. The presenter is an art scholar who obviously loves her job and the collection found at the National Gallery. One is able to see the changes in technique from the earliest period of painting up to the beginning of the 20th century (for the collection ends there). It is well worth watching. 1776 by David McCullough We like to think of the spirit of ’76, a heroic and victorious time in American history. But this book by McCullough (who is a tremendous history author) shows that it was also a disastrous time when Washington and his troops were expelled from New York and lost Philadelphia, the capital of the nation, to the British. It was only the Christmas battle in Trenton in which Washington surprised a large camp of Hessian mercenaries and captured many of them that let the year end on a high note which gave the nation hope for a possible victory in their quest for freedom. Heliopolis by Charles River Editors This is the city in ancient Egypt that was dedicated to the worship of the Sun god. It had its ups and down, dependent upon who was ruling Egypt and which cult he had chosen to be the most important in his empire. Very little of the original city is left, largely having been used for building material by subsequent settlers in this area. Fort Henry by Jonathan Gianos-Steinberg This was one of the first battle of the Civil War and the first major victory for northern troops (led by General Grant but assisted by the Navy Commander Foote). This was the first moment in which Grant came to the attention of the nation. The battle itself was not all that significant, given that a good part of the fort was flooded because of the South having chosen a bad location for its layout, and also because a good part of the troops had already evacuated the fort before the battle even began. Lusitania: Triumph, Tragedy, and the End of the Edwardian Age by Greg King and Penny Wilson This is the passenger ship running from New York to Great Britain in 1915 that was sunk by a German torpedo in 1915, with a huge loss of life, including many Americans. Much of the account deals with the people on board, their lives, etc. Who was to blame? The British had actually made this ship into a part of the British navy, so it could not claim that it was a civilian ship. They were also carrying munitions aboard. The Germans gave no warning before they fired the torpedo(s). There are also the faults of the crew who did not maintain the life boats well or prepare the passengers ot use them if there were an emergency. To sum it up, they were all at fault to a certain degree. Utopia and Terror in the 20th Century by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius This is a Great Courses (24 lectures) course on some of the utopian and often totalitarian movements during the 20th century (e.g. communism, fascism, national socialism, etc.). Liulevivius is a good scholar and presenter. He brings out the similarities and differences of the various groups and their expressions in various countries. This is a good course. Have a good week. Shalom fr. Jude

Ellicott City - Priestfield, WV - Buffalo - Ellicott City

July 12, 2025 Peace and Good, I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer. The weather here in Baltimore is hot and sticky, which is most often is at this time of year. This has been a busy few weeks. On June 9 I had a morning rpesentation ono the encyclical that Pope Francis had written on the Sacred Heart. It was the feast of the Sacred Heart, so it worked perfectly. I was very pleased with how it turned out, and it is now posted on youtube. That evening I went out to the retreat house in Charlestown, WV to preach (with another friar) to a group of secular Franciscans on a weekend retreat. The topic was how they could better minister to each other as brothers and sisters, especially as some of their number are aging and can become isolated. Then, Monday through Friday I gave a retreat to a group of Trinitarians at the retreat house in Mariottsville, MD, not too far down the streat from where I live. The topic was what we can learn from the Wisdom literature in the Old Testament. I enjoyed working with the group. There were about 20 of them. Then, this past weekend I flew up to Buffalo for a memorial Mass for my sister Marge at the chapel of our friary at St. Francis High School. That, too, went very well. I wish I had had more time to spend with the family, but I had to fly back to Baltimore that afternoon because I had a doctor's appointment the next morning. That appointment was a periodic CT scan of my lungs. From what I can tell from the report (I have not yet met with the doctors), it looks very good. I finished some reading; Jerusalem by Leslie Hoppe Leslie Hoppe is a Biblical scholar who is famous for his archaeological trips to the Holy Land. This Learn25 course gives the history of Jerusalem, its importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its importance and future. This is a good course with each topic thoroughly and clearly presented. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in the topic. Renaissance Woman by Ramie Targoff This is the story of Vittoria Colonna, a woman who lived in Italy during the time of Michaelangelo. She was married to an important member of the Colonna family, one of the leading families in Rome for centuries. Instead of remarrying when her husband died, she dedicated herself to religion and poetry. She was one of the first woman poets to have a book of her poems published in Italy. A good part of the book tries to show how she was fascinated by Lutheranism, although I did not get the feeling that what the author describes as Protestant ideas really were than. Mary, Mother of Jesus by Bertrand Buby This is a Learn25 course with 24 lectures on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our faith and our lives. Buby is a Marianist. His presentations are not all that good. Much of the time is taken up with quoting citations or prayers. His examples from his own life are not all that inspiring. His conclusions are not always firmly based (more devotional than analytically demonstrated). Convict Colony by David Hill This is the story of the foundation of the convict colony of the British Empire in Australia. Given that the laws of Great Britain were draconian and their prisons were willed and the American colonies where they had often deported prisoners had been lost, the British had to find another land to serve as a holding cell for their prisoners. They sent them far away to Australia, often without the means for survival. The early history of the Australian colony is filled with violence (often coming from the hands of those in charge), fraud and exploitation, etc. It was only gradually that the British government came to understand more fully what was happening and stepped in to provide a better government for them. Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer This is the story of some murders committed by a small group of fundamentalist Mormons (this offshoot represents only about ½ of one percent of the Mormon body). The author compares and contrasts this movement to the founding of the religion and their migration to the Salt Lake City area. That foundation story, too, is quite violent and it is a period about which Mormons don’t often speak and at times dissemble about. At the end of the book, the author wrestles with the question of what causes certain people to become fanatical to the point of being willing to kill others. Artemesia Gentilesci by Delphi Art Classics This is one of the Delphi books which speak of individual artists and which show all of their extant works. Artemesia Genetilesci is unusual for this artist was a woman in a time when almost all other artists were men. The description of her life, her works, her artistic style, etc. are very well done. Rollo of Normandy by Chronicle Press This is the first book that I have received from Chronicle Press, which gives their books for free the first day they are listed on kindle. This one did not over impress me. About one third of the book is devoted to a futile attempt to identify Rollo (an ancestor of William the Conqueror in the literature of the Vikings. Basically, Rollo made a deal with the king of France to take over Normandy and surrounding territories in return for the promise to stop raiding the rest of France (an, in fact, help to stop other Vikings from doing this as well.). The 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane by Charles River Editors This is the story of a horrendous hurricane that hit southern/central Florida from the ocean side. The greatest damage was done in the environs of Lake Okeechobee where there were many farms. The lake had a series of dykes and levees, but they were all destroyed by the horrendous surge in the level of the lake. Most of those who were killed in the disaster were the poor farm workers, mostly people of color. Ancient Palmyra by Charles River Editors We do not hear much about Palmyra today, but it was a major trading city in the Mid-East during and after the time of Jesus. One of its most famous monarchs was Zenobia, who acting as regent for her son, threatened the power of Rome throughout this part of the world. Palmyra was brought low after this rebellion, and it never recovered its status in the ancient, medieval or modern world. Unsung Heroes of World War II by Lynne Olson I have read a couple of books written by this professor, and so it was a joy to see her give a series of presentations on the Great Courses series on people about whom we might not have heard much, but who played a significant role in the course of World War II (in Europe). This includes people in the underground, politicians, kings and queens, etc. This was a very good, very informative course. Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris I think I have read everything that Harris has written, including his trilogy on Cicero and his book on Dreyfus. This book deals with the period after the death of Oliver Cromwell and the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the throne of Great Britain. Parliament passed an act that all of the signers of the decree of condemnation to death of King Charles I were to be punished. This book deals with one man from this new regime who searches for two of the signers in the colonies of the new world. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, as I do with all of his books. Lewis and Clark by Ralph Andrist This is a short account of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Only enough information to fill out the gaps is given of the lives of these two explorers. That which is recounted, though, is quite good and gives a good sense of the heroic nature of their mission to explore the newly acquired Louisiana territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Have a good restful week. Shalom fr. Jude